www.ralfy.com spends some quality time sipping Orkney’s other malt whisky with Whisky Review 353 – Scapa 14yo

Joe from Whisky Wednesday reviews Balcones Rumble Cask Reserve.

http://youtu.be/ZMENtZlAI0o

http://Facebook.com/whiskytube

http://Twitter.com/whiskytube

http://www.balconesdistilling.com/legal/

Please join us for a tasting of another fabulous line-up of single cask, cask strength whiskies from The Scotch Malt Whisky Society(SMWS) by registering below!!!

The SMWS releases up to seven new bottlings every month and our Outturn tastings are your opportunity to try before you buy, get to know other members and enjoy a few tasty nibbles to pair with the whiskies!

Open to both Society members and non-members alike; invite your whisky-loving friends & join the fun to explore SMWS’s rare and wonderful single malt whiskies.

In order for us to ensure we have enough space, whisky & nibbles of food, PLEASE REGISTER AT THE LATEST BY THE FRIDAY MORNING PRIOR TO THE TASTING!

Memberships are now available in-store! For more info on SMWS visit www.smws.ca

When: Monday April 8, 2013 from 6:45 PM to 8:15 PM PDT

Note: Registration is required in advance, by the Friday morning prior to the tasting please! Please arrive 5-10mins early to check-in, tasting starts promptly at 6:45pm

Where: Edgemont Fine Wines, Spirits & Ales, 3020 Edgemont Blvd. North Vancouver, BC V7R 2N4

Event Fee: SMWS Members = $40 +GST Non-Members = $50 +GST

Register Now!

Whisky ‘Holy Grail’ Uncovered in Scotland

We are very proud to announce that after months of keeping an incredible discovery under wraps we can finally reveal it to the world. TWE have recently been involved in one of the most exciting whisky projects that we have … Continue reading >>

www.ralfy.com explores a good value/quality modern single malt with Whisky Review 352 – An Cnoc 16yo

www.ralfy.com turns to the obscure and elusive side of single malt Distilleries with Whisky Review 354 – Imperial single malt (D.T. 19yo @ 53.1%)

Highland Park Loki

A year and a bit since the first release in the series, the second entry in Highland Park’s Valhalla Collection has arrived – Loki. The makeup of Loki was conceived around the same time as last year’s Thor and acts … Continue reading >>

NEW ARRIVALS

United States – Bourbon and Rye

• Ascendant Spirits Breaker Limited Edition Bourbon      Whisky 750ml – 6 available ($44.99)
• George Dickel Rye Whiskey 750ml – 12 available ($22.99)
• Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Kentucky Bourbon 750ml      – 5 available ($53.99)

Scotland – Single Malt Scotch

• Bruichladdich 22 Year Old “The Laddie” Single Malt Whisky 750ml – 5 available ($199.99)

K&L Wine Merchants
http://www.klwines.com
Phone: 877-KLWines (toll free 877-559-4637)
Email: wine@klwines.com
San Francisco, Redwood City, Hollywood CA

ARRAN WHISKY HAS OTHER MALTS OVER A BARREL WITH DOUBLE GOLD

– Scottish distillery gets top award in worldwide competition-

Scotch whisky producer, Isle of Arran Distillers, has scooped a top award at an international world spirits competition.

After fighting off fierce competition from hundreds of spirits from across the world, Arran is celebrating after taking home a Double Gold for its 12 Year Old Cast Strength Single Malt Scotch.

Held in San Francisco, the annual World Spirits Competition commends the finest spirits from across the globe.  More than 1,400 spirits from 61 countries* were judged this year as part of the largest competition in the event’s history.

The 12 Year Old Malt, characterised by aromas of dark chocolate, toasted oak and baked apples, is released by the Distiller on Batch basis. The winning whisky is from Batch#2 released in October 2012 and limited to 12,000 bottles worldwide.

Arran’s managing director, Euan Mitchell, said the high-profile win was the perfect reward for years of hard work in bringing the Malt to market.

He said: “Over the last 17 years, Arran has built up a first-rate reputation for its award-winning products and we feel extremely proud that our 12 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt has added to that by winning this prestigious award.

“Like all our whisky, our 12 Year Malt is special because of the passion of the people who make it and because of our unflinching approach to quality. No artificial colouring has been used, the deep hue being achieved from maturation in the finest sherry casks, and the malt has not been chill-filtered at bottling thus retaining the full range of aromas and flavour which typify The Arran Malt.”

Since it was founded in 1995, the Isle of Arran Distillery has won a number of awards including ‘Double Gold Award’ for its 14 Year Old Single Malt and ‘Gold Award’ for its 10 Year Old Single Malt at the World Spirits Competition 2012, ‘Best Single Malt Scotch 11-15 Years’ for the Icons of Arran Peacock (2011) and Scottish Distiller of the Year (2007).

James MacTagart is Arran’s master distiller and created the award-winning 12 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt.

He said: “To see a whisky I put so much passion into making be well-received on a global scale is extremely exciting for me. I can’t wait to raise a glass of it in celebration of our win and we hope to continue producing award-winning malts for many years to come.” 

For more information visit www.arranwhisky.com

* Accolades for Isle of Arran Distillery include Winner for: Scottish Distiller of the Year (2007) and Scottish Drinks Producer of the Year (2007); Queen’s Award for International Trade (2005); Best New Exporter (2004).

Product awards include: ‘Double Gold Award’ for Arran’s 14 Year Old Single Malt and ‘Gold Award’ for Arran’s 10 Year Old Single Malt at the World Spirits Competition 2012. Double Gold in FiftyBest.com awards 2012. ‘Best Single Malt Scotch 11-15 Years’ for The Arran Malt Sherry Single Cask 1998 (2010) and ‘Best Single Malt Scotch 11-15 Years’ for the Icons of Arran Peacock (2011. ‘Best Single Malt Scotch 12 Years & Under’ for The Arran Malt Amarone Cask Finish (2008), Best Whisky Liqueur (2007).

So much has happened since we last wrote that we thought it worth bringing you up to date with all the goings-on and perhaps inspire you with some Easter ideas.

One thing that hasn’t happened – and I’m sure you’re as sick of it as us – is an improvement in the weather! However, we like to look on the bright side and this cold spell just makes us want to taste more whisky! And given it is Easter, we think it only right to try and remain positive!

Here we have then, 10 good news stories from us that may raise a smile and even give you some ideas of how you might want to spend your time over the next few weeks and months…

10 GOOD NEWS STORIES…

1 British ‘Summer-time’ starts this Sunday. Whoopee. Just cold and miserable, rather than dark, cold and miserable. Great news.

2 Only 29 days to our first ever Whisky Festival in Scotland. The Edinburgh Whisky Festival takes place on Saturday 27th April at The Hub on the Royal Mile. Click here for details and tickets.

3 Michelin-starred chef Mark Greenaway and Morrison Bowmore Master Distiller, Rachel Barrie, feature in the Edinburgh Festival with a ‘molecular gastronomy’ workshop par excellence. More info soon…

4 The Whisky Lounge returns to London with a bang. The London Whisky Festival 2013 on May 18th & 19th has plenty of surprises up its sleeve. 2 for £50 ‘Early-Bird’ tickets are nearly gone and won’t last the weekend. Click here to take a closer look.

5 Not least of these is the Sunday 19th May ‘Jam & Dram’ session, sub-titled ‘The Great Whisky and Music Experiment’, this is going to be entertaining as well as tasty! Click here for more…

6 There are still 4 places left on our ‘Backstage Islay’ Trips in June. Click here for more.

7 Our Brighton Whisky Festival, which takes place next Saturday – the 6th April – showcases new exhibitors, That Boutique-y Whisky Company and the stunning Number One Drinks Co. Expect fireworks on your taste-buds provided by both and the other wonderful whiskies on offer! Click here for more.

8 Our first ever UK tour with those good folks at The Scotch Malt Whisky Society. We have seen the line-up and it is truly stunning – we’re not just saying that! Samples of 6 cask strength, single cask whiskies from all over Scotland for only £20. Bargain! Click here for more.

9 We’ve sneekily announced our Leeds Whisky Festival that takes place on Saturday 2nd June at the O2 Academy. Click here for more details and a cheeky little ‘early-bird’.

10 Finally, we have started adding further term dates for our fantastically full-on but fun Whisky Schools. For those wanting a top-up on dramatical educational issues or simply a full-day of whisky learning and tasting – this is the one for you, the other whisky-lover in your life, or both of you! Click here for more.

Anyway, far be it from us to keep you from your Easter weekend, so until next time, happy dramming and see you for a whisky or two soon!

Slainte,
Eddie, Amanda and Joe
The Whisky Lounge Team.